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| Pravanjan Mullick |
Bhubaneswar, Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day turned sour for well-known cricketer and former Orissa Ranji skipper Pravanjan Mullick as his wife Cini Mohanty lodged a police case accusing him of dowry torture.
Following Cini’s FIR, Pravanjan was booked under Sections 498A (cruelty of husband or his relatives against wife), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. The cricketer has been detained.
Pravanjan and Cini married in 2002 following courtship, but their relations strained soon after. The couple broke up twice in the past only to be united again. However, differences between them resurfaced and Cini moved to her parents’ house in the city three years ago.
Sources said that Pravanjan had filed for divorce last year and the matter is sub judice. He had invited his wife today in an apparent patch up bid, but the attempt fell through. Cini, who went to Mahila police station in the evening, alleged that Pravanjan beat her up inside his car. She had injury marks on her cheek and forehead.
Later Cini said that her husband started torturing her for dowry a year after their marriage in Bhubaneswar. He also accused her mother-in-law of torture.
“For the last four years, I have been living with my parents in the city,” she added.
Pravanjan, who retired from the game in October last year, led the state in nine Ranji Trophy matches. He also played for Board President’s XI against New Zealand in Jodhpur, and represented India A team at a match against West Indies in West Indies in 1998-99.
He also played for the Board President’s team against Zimbabwe in Vijayawada in 2002, and represented India A against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in the same year.
Pravanjan has an impressive career statistics with 88 first class matches, in which he aggregated 5,818 runs, with 207 not out being his highest. He has 18 centuries and 27 half centuries to his credit, besides 64 catches.
Pravanjan, who made his debut in first class cricket versus Punjab in 1996-97, also took 30 wickets at the expense of 1,303 runs during his career, his best figure reading 3/45.
Though his former colleagues refused to comment on his personal issue, sources said the cricketing fraternity of the state had been shocked by the incident, especially since it came on the day when youngsters celebrate love.